In Paraguay, municipalities must comply with law regulating the use of slots

Due to the lack of regulation, many cities and public spaces have long become a free field for the avalanche of slot machines that have captivated many adults in the vice of gambling; in the case of adolescents and children, they fall into the addiction known as gambling addiction. However, last December, the President of the Republic signed decree 938/2023, which regulates Law 6903/2022, "which establishes measures to protect minors from the influence of slot machines", meaning that these machines should no longer be visible to minors.

These games must operate in places authorised by the municipalities, places adapted to safety standards with the prohibition of entry to minors.

The National Gaming Commission (Conajzar in Spanish) has been insisting on compliance with the regulation that prohibits the display of these machines in public spaces and within the reach of children, warning of the controls and interventions in process. They even set a deadline for drastic measures until 8 February.

The deadlines have expired and the mayors as well as the responsible officials of each municipality who owe it to the citizens have to abide by the regulations without any consideration for those who violate the provisions. If they are unable to protect their communities from this gambling vice, they should be sanctioned and step aside.

Economic studies estimate multimillion-dollar figures that move in the black behind this business, which is considered clandestine, but which is clearly exploited. Unfortunately, the regulation came after years of these machines taking over avenues and public places in an invasive manner, without protection for the vulnerable population; however, this is not an argument for continuing to postpone compliance with the law.

Cities, through their municipal administrations, need to regulate this aspect of gambling. The Conajzar has an enormous mission and has to advance in a strategic coordination of procedures involving different entities, mainly the Public Ministry, in order to bring the full weight of the law to bear on the transgressors.

The delay in complying with the regulations that prohibit the display of the machines in unauthorised places risks further speculation in the black business and that disloyal officials continue to turn a blind eye to these machines that flood cities.